| Letter from Fr Mark McManus 28th May |
| Dear Parishioners of St Joseph's & St Charles, |
| This week our Masses will be:
Saturday, 29 May, at 5:00pm
Sunday, 30 May, at 9:00am & 10:00am Tuesday, 1 June, at 10:00am Friday, 4 June, at 10:00am Some further lifting of restrictions
Good news, the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have issued new guidance for churches. Stewards are only now needed on weekends and for any other major service - especially those with a number of people not familiar with the church, e.g. funerals. For now, Track and Trace remains in place at those events.
Some greater flexibility in the assessment of the safe capacity of a church (i.e. it is possible to safely drop to 'one metre plus' with the mitigation of face coverings, etc.) means that we can begin to operate at 50% of our total seating capacity. So, from the weekend of 5 & 6 June, we will be able to seat 3 individual people to a pew as a 1+2 arrangement of households/bubbles, or a 1+1+1. Our benches are all over 3 metres in length. All other Covid measures will remain in place, so do please keep using the hand sanitiser, wearing your face coverings and staying a 1m+ social distance when you are inside the church. Thank you. Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
Our annual Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour continues this Tuesday, 1 June, with St Joseph, Patron of Families, at 7.00pm in St Joseph's church. All welcomeTuesday, 8 June, Patron of Workers Tuesday, 15 June, Friend In Suffering Tuesday, 22 June, Patron of a Happy Death N.B. Here is the slightly adapted novena for you to print out and bring with you if possible, please. Thank you. Attending church
FACE COVERINGS ARE REQUIRED IN CHURCH
UNLESS YOU HAVE AN EXEMPTION THIS IS NOW LAW You MUST NOT come to church if: You are unwell or somebody in your household has coronavirus symptoms, for example a cough or high temperature. Please follow the directions of the stewards. Church Cleaning & Stewarding
The continuing work of our voluntary church cleaners and stewards remains the bedrock of our ability to open and use our church. Without them the church would be closed and we are immensely thankful for all that they do. If you have returned to church, have seen how things are done, and now feel ready and able to volunteer then please contact me. More hands help spread the load. Thank you.
Finally, this week's newsletter is here. Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us. St Joseph, pray for us. St Charles Borromeo, pray for us. With my prayers, Rev. Mark McManus Parish Priest |